About Cardholder Vanilla
Who runs this site, why it exists, and how we research and update our guides.
On this page
Why this site exists
Prepaid gift cards are simple until something goes wrong: a declined online order, a balance that doesn't add up, a card that expires with money on it. The information cardholders need is often spread across packaging, fine print and forum threads. Cardholder Vanilla brings it together in one place, written in plain English for people in Canada.
What we are, and what we're not
- We are an independent, educational website.
- We are not Vanilla Prepaid, Vanilla Gift, InComm Payments, Peoples Trust Company, Visa, Mastercard or any retailer, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
- We cannot check balances, view transactions, issue refunds, replace cards or access any account.
- We will never ask for your card number, expiry date, security code or personal banking information.
How we research
Our guides are based on publicly available information: the cardholder terms supplied with cards, card packaging, the issuer's public help pages, Canadian regulator publications such as those of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, and consumer protection resources such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Where details vary between card series or change over time, such as fees and phone numbers, we say so and point you to the authoritative source on your own card instead of giving a figure that might be out of date.
How we keep content up to date
Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed. We revisit pages regularly and whenever readers report a change. If you notice something that is out of date, please tell us. Corrections are made promptly and the updated date changes when content is revised.
How the site is funded
The site may display advertising to cover hosting and writing costs. Advertisers have no influence over what we write, and we don't accept payment to recommend any product. See our privacy policy for how advertising cookies work.
Contact
Questions, corrections and feedback are welcome through our contact page. For anything about your card or account, contact the card issuer directly.